Animal trap

Abstract

A bail-type animal trap for small rodents and the like, having a self-setting triggering mechanism. The trap includes a spring-loaded, bail-type striker which is hinged to the upper surface of the base. The striker is releasably retained in the cocked position by a resilient latch which is connected by a wire or rod to a trigger plate which is adapted to hold a piece of bait. The trigger plate engages a stop affixed to the base. The trigger plate includes an integral catch for engaging the stop, and an integral fulcrum which causes the trigger to release when it is either lifted, depressed, or moved sideways. The striker further includes a self-setter which returns the trigger plate to the set position each time the trap is sprung.

We claim: 
     
       1. An animal trap comprising: a generally flat base comprising a forward end and a rear end;   a bail-type striker hinged to said base for relative swinging motion on said base between a cocked position at said rear end of said base and a sprung position at said forward end of said base;   spring means for driving said striker from said cocked position at said rear end of said base to said sprung position at said forward end of said base;   resilient latch means affixed to said rear end of said base and extending upwardly therefrom, said latch comprising means operable to engage and retain said striker in said cocked position, said latch means being resiliently disposed toward said rear end of said base so as to release said striker except when urged toward said forward end of said base;   a trigger plate comprising an integral downwardly protruding catch and integral fulcrum means, said trigger plate further comprising means for retaining a piece of bait placed thereon;   connecting means said latch means to said trigger plate; and   stop means affixed to said base, said stop means being engagable with said catch of said trigger plate, and said trigger plate, when engaged with said stop means, operating through said connecting means to urge said latch means toward a forward position retaining said striker in said cocked position;   whereby said trigger plate may be disengaged from said stop means upon said trigger plate being depressed downwardly, being lifted upwardly or being moved sideways, by an animal, so as to thereby release said latch means and allow said striker to be driven to said sprung position.   
     
     
       2. The animal trap defined in claim 1 wherein said bail-type striker comprises a heavy gauge wire formed in a generally rectangular configuration having four integral segments, one of said segments being an axial segment about which said striker rotates. 
     
     
       3. The animal trap defined in claim 1 further comprising a self-setter, said self-setter comprising an elongate plate extending transversely from said axial segment of said striker and wherein said self-setter is oriented so as to urge said trigger plate into engagement with said stop means upon said striker rotating from said cocked position to said sprung position. 
     
     
       4. The animal trap defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a wire extending between said trigger plate and said latch means. 
     
     
       5. The animal trap defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a rod extending between said trigger plate and said latch means. 
     
     
       6. The animal trap defined in claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises a resilient plate extending upwardly from said base, said resilient plate comprising an integral catch extending forwardly from said plate. 
     
     
       7. The animal trap defined in claim 1 wherein said stop means comprises a staple fully driven into said base so as to form a rigid stop positioned close to the surface of said base. 
     
     
       8. The animal trap defined in claim 1 wherein said integral fulcrum means of said trigger plate comprises an integral dent punched into said trigger plate from its upper surface. 
     
     
       9. The animal trap defined in claim 1 wherein said integral fulcrum means of said trigger plate comprises a downwardly extending curve in said trigger plate. 
     
     
       10. The animal trap defined in claim 1 wherein said integral downwardly extending catch of said trigger plate comprises a downwardly punched section of said plate, said downwardly punched section being formed by first forming a punched transverse slit in said trigger plate, followed by punching downwardly a segment of said plate immediately forward of said slit. 
     
     
       11. The animal trap defined in claim 1 wherein said catch means extending forwardly of said resilient plate of said latch means comprises a forwardly punched segment of said resilient plate, said forwardly punched segment being formed by first forming a transverse slit in said resilient plate, followed by punching forward a segment of said resilient plate above said slit from the rear side of said resilient plate. 
     
     
       12. The animal trap defined in claim 1 wherein said bail-type striker comprises a heavy gauge wire formed into a generally rectangular configuration having four integral segments, one of said segments being an axial segment about which said striker rotates, and wherein said trap further comprises a self-setter, said self-setter comprising a resilient cross-bar affixed to and extending across said striker, and wherein said cross-bar is oriented so as to urge said trigger plate into engagement with said stop means upon said striker rotating from said cocked position to said sprung position. 
     
     
       13. The animal trap defined in claim 12 wherein said connecting means comprises a wire extending between said trigger plate and said latch means. 
     
     
       14. The animal trap defined in claim 12 wherein said connecting means comprises a rod extending between said trigger plate and said latch means. 
     
     
       15. The animal trap defined in claim 12 wherein said latch means comprises a resilient plate extending upwardly from said base, said resilient plate comprising an integral catch extending forwardly from said plate. 
     
     
       16. The animal trap defined in claim 12 wherein said stop means comprises a staple fully driven into said base so as to form a rigid stop positioned close to the surface of said base. 
     
     
       17. The animal trap defined in claim 12 wherein said integral fulcrum means of said trigger plate comprises an integral dent punched into said trigger plate from its upper surface. 
     
     
       18. The animal trap defined in claim 12 wherein said integral fulcrum means of said trigger plate comprises a downwardly extending curve in said trigger plate. 
     
     
       19. The animal trap defined in claim 12 wherein said integral downwardly extending catch of said trigger plate comprises a downwardly punched section of said plate, said downwardly punched section being formed by first forming a punched transverse slit in said trigger plate, followed by punching downwardly a segment of said plate immediately forward of said slit. 
     
     
       20. The animal trap defined in claim 12 wherein said catch means extending forwardly of said resilient plate of said latch means comprises a forwardly punched segment of said resilient plate, said forwardly punched segment of said resilient plate, said forwardly punched segment being formed by first forming a transverse slit in said resilient plate, followed by punching forward a segment of said resilient plate above said slit from the rear side of said resilient plate.